Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

All baccalaureate degrees require completion of the requirements listed below. Degree requirements fall into three categories: general education requirements; major/minor requirements and other University requirements.

Total Units

A minimum of 120-122 units are required, depending on the major selected. No more than 70 units taken at a community college or another two-year college may be applied to this total, excluding military credit and credit by examination. A quarter unit is equivalent to two-thirds of a semester unit.

Upper Division Units

At least 40 of the total required units for graduation must be in courses numbered 300-499.

Major

Completion of a specific number and pattern of courses in one or more academic departments is defined as a major and is required for graduation.

General Education

All students must complete General Education requirements. General Education requirements can be found in the General Education section of the catalog. A minimum of nine upper division, interdisciplinary units must be completed in residence at CSU Channel Islands.

Residence

At least 30 of the total units must be taken at CSU Channel Islands excluding Open University and Extension units. At least 24 of these 30 units must be upper division coursework, and 12 of the 30 units must be in the major. At least 9 units of upper division interdisciplinary General Education courses (numbered in the 330-349 or 430-449 ranges) of the required 48 General Education units must be completed in residence at CSU Channel Islands.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

An overall GPA of 2.0 is required in:

Total courses attempted

CSU Channel Islands courses attempted; and

Courses in the major

Title V, Section 40404: Graduation Requirements in United States History, Constitution and American Ideals (American Institutions Requirement) [top]

Students are required to demonstrate competencies in U.S. History, U.S. Constitution and California state and local government for graduation. Competencies can be met by enrollment in six units as follows:

Choose from one of the following:

POLS 150 American Political Institutions (3)

POLS 316 State and Local Politics and Policy (3)

Students who have AP credit for American Government or have taken American Government without coverage of California government may take the following: POLS 140 California Government (1)

The language requirement can be met by satisfying General Education category C3a with a grade of C or better. Students who are G.E. certified in Section C must still meet the language requirement for graduation and may do so either by passing a C3a course with a grade of “C” or better or by demonstrating proficiency through examination. Students will also receive credit for having advanced proficiency in a language other than English. This proficiency can be demonstrated via an examination that assesses the student’s language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) on a variety of informal and formal topics. By passing this examination, students fulfill the graduation exit requirement for language. For purposes of the General Education requirement, however, students receive content credit but not unit credit.

The multicultural requirement can be met by satisfying General Education category C3b with a grade of C or better. (SP 03-27)

Graduation Information and Application Process for the Bachelor’s Degree [top]

To qualify for graduation students must complete all requirements for the bachelor’s degree by the official graduation date listed in the schedule of classes. Graduation is not automatic upon the completion of requirements. Students who intend to graduate must take the initiative and should follow the key steps listed below. While students are ultimately responsible for completing all degree requirements, assistance is available through faculty advisement, the Advising Center and Graduation Evaluations. It is important that students meet regularly with an advisor to avoid graduation problems and delays.

Application for Graduation

The application for Degree and Diploma and filing fee entitles students to an official graduation evaluation of progress toward meeting baccalaureate degree requirements. Students qualifying for graduation by the designated graduation date may participate in the annual commencement ceremony. The application for degree is available at the Advising Center in the Bell Tower building and at the Enrollment Center in the Sage Hall.

Key Steps to Graduation

Request a preliminary graduation evaluation from the Advising Center approximately two semesters prior to the anticipated graduation date. Students begin the process by meeting with a professional advisor in the Advising Center. The advisor will complete a preliminary check of all graduation requirements. Included in this check will be a major evaluation that may be signed by either a professional advisor or major program advisor.

After the initial check with the Advising Center advisor, complete the Application for Degree and Diploma, attach the preliminary graduation evaluation completed by the Advising Center advisor, along with any approved course substitutions.

Submit the completed preliminary evaluation, Application for Degree and Diploma and any approved course substitutions to the Enrollment Center Cashier (Sage Hall) and pay the appropriate fees for graduation application. The graduation fee covers the cost of the graduation check, the diploma, and participation in the annual commencement ceremony. (The fee does not include cap and gown rental, which is handled separately by The Cove Bookstore). The Cashier’s Office sends the Application for Degree and Diploma, preliminary graduation evaluation and certification of payment to Graduation Evaluations.

If the Application for Degree and Diploma is completed by the published deadline (see current semester schedule for filing dates and deadlines), a completed degree evaluation will be mailed before the end of the add/drop period in a student’s last semester. The graduation evaluation confirms remaining requirements for graduation and is a formal statement on the expected semester of graduation. The actual date of graduation will be the end of the semester in which all requirements have been met.

Participate in the commencement ceremony held at the end of the spring semester if eligible (participation is optional).

Students not completing the requirements by expected date of graduation must submit a change of graduation term form to the Record’s Office and will be charged a $15 graduation refile fee.

After all degree requirements have been completed and Graduation Evaluators can verify their completion, a diploma is normally available within four months of final clearance. If proof of completion of degree is needed prior to receiving a diploma, verification of graduation or transcript may be requested from Records and Registration.

Students who have completed degree or credential requirements the previous summer or fall terms are eligible to participate in the ceremony along with those who plan to complete their work in the spring or subsequent summer and have filed an Application for Degree and Diploma. Names of graduates and degree candidates who have applied for graduation by the published deadline will be published in the Commencement Program. (SA.16.002) (SP07-05)

Refer to discipline specific graduate degree requirements for detailed information. These are listed in the program information and supersede minimum University requirements. Additionally, students must meet all University requirements to graduate.